VOORHEES, N.J.They were wearing green no-contact jerseys, but defensemen Nicklas Grossmann and Andrej Meszaros joined the Flyers at practice Wednesday afternoon.
For a team thats taken a beating on the on the blue line this spring, thats a positive sign.
Theyre a big part of our team, Claude Giroux said. Defensively, theyve been great for us all year. It would be great to have them back.
Grossmann, who sustained a concussion in Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, is the more likely candidate to return in time for the start of the Flyers next series (which looks to kick off Saturday or Sunday, perhaps). Though hes still listed as day-to-day and has no target date for return, Grossmann is understandably itching to get back into the lineup.
Its always frustrating, he said. You want to be out there and help the guys. Its always tough to watch from the stands. They did a heck of a job out there. They played good in the last game to close it out.
Credit to them, and as I said, its frustrating but its something you got to deal with. Im just doing day by day and trying to get better.
Grossmann practiced with a small group of Flyers Saturday and skated with the Black Aces (the AHL call-ups that travel with the team during the postseason) Tuesday, but Wednesday marked the first practice he participated in with the full team since his injury, April 18.
NHL
"It's nice to get back on the ice and participate with the team," Grossmann said. "I'm just going to try to take baby steps here and see how it goes."
Mezsaros skated with the Flyers for the second day in a row, and only the second time since undergoing back surgery on March 21 while wearing full equipment.
It was nice to be out there with the guys, thats for sure, he said. Feel the flow, have a few laughs with the guys. When youre injured, youre doing your stuff before the guys are here or after, so youre left behind, and you want to be with them and bond. Theyre a great group of guys. So it was very nice to be out there with them. Full gear, it feels weird after not having it on.
Meszaros original timeline for return was six to eight weeks, and hes been rehabbing for five. More than likely, hes still a couple of weeks away, at best.
I cant really say, he said. Just taking it day by day and seeing how it is. Sometimes I have a good day, sometimes I have a bad day, so it depends. Day by day and go from there. It was a serious injury so I dont want to go out there no 100 percent, so well see. Every day is different.
Having either player in the lineup for the next round would be a huge boost for the Flyers, but Meszaros and Grossmann will both have to be cleared for contact before they return.
No Briere, Jagr or Timonen
Danny Briere, Jaromir Jagr and Kimmo Timonen were the only Flyers who didn't participate in Wednesday's practice. All three were given maintenance days.
Briere and Timonen were also off for Tuesday's skate, though Jagr did practice with the team then. Timonen, who blocked a shot in Game 5, was limping slightly as he walked through the hallways at Skate Zone, favoring his left foot a bit. There is, however, no reason to believe he wouldn't be in the lineup for Game 1 of the Flyers' Eastern Conference semifinal series.
E-mail Sarah Baicker at sbaicker@comcastcastsportsnet.com